Cover-attaching means for electrical floor-boxes.



No 861,654. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907 W. F. IRISH. COVER ATTACHING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL FLOOR BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1906.

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PATENT WILLIAM F. IRISH, OF DEN'VILLE, IEW JERSEY.

COVER-ATTACHIN'G- MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL snoonnoxns.

Application filed Earth 15, 1906. Serial No. 306,122.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, WILLIAM F. Irusn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denville, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Cover-Attaching Means for Electrical Floor-Boxes, of which the following specification and accompanying drawing illustrate the invention in a form which I now regard as the best out of the various forms in which itcmay'be embodied. v

This invention relates to'the construction of floor boxes adapted to contain a plug and socket, whereby an electric cord may be'connected with wiring in the floor of an apartment. Such boxes may include a removable cover or co'ver-section for affording access to the internal plug and permitting its removal without taking off the whole top of the box or of that part which lies flush with the floor.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the cover may be quickly attached and removed and whereby greater durability is attained. Formerly it has been common to employ a threaded cover, but the screw threads soon became damaged under the rough usage which they encounter. Such boxes are usually made waterproof and my invention includes a waterproof construction.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view showing the box and its cover. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the box and cover connected; Fig. 3 represents a reverse, plan view of the top part removed from the body of the box.

The same reference characters denote the same parts mall the figures.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the body of the floor box adapted to be sunk below the level of the floor and containing an electrical socket l1 fixed within the body of the box and a removable plug 12 fitting said socket and fixed on the end of a flexible conducting cord 12.

14 is a top-plate adapted to rest flush with the floor level and connected with a: horizontal flange 1-5 on the upper edge of the box-body, by means of screws 16.

Between the flange and top-plate is a separate locking plate 17 and between the abutting laces of these plates and iange are 10 *ated two layers or sheets l8 l9 oi rubber insulation. These insulating layers and the two plates 14 17 have a central hole 23 through them of sufficient size to enable the plug 12 to be readily applied and removed by hand, and this hole is filled by a raised bell-shapod cover 20 having an annular insulator 21 in its upper end, through which passes the cord 13. On the under side of said cover are formed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 198?.

three hooks 22 which extend downwardly to enter the hole 23 and point outwardly to engage the under edge 7 of the plate 17. Said plate and the upper insulating side of each notch 24 is formed on the under side of the plate 17 a cam incline 25, each incline is a stop lug 26.

In operating this floor box, to apply the plug 12 and close the box, the cover 20 will he slid back on the cord 13 and the plug 12 inserted in socket ll. The hooks 22 should then be alined with the notches 24, and the cover 20 inserted in place and turned so that the hooks 22 ride on the inclines 25 and draw the lower rim of the cover 20 down tightly against the seat formed by the inwardly-projecting margin of plate 17 and insulating layer 18. Thus the box is closed wator-tight at the floor level. When the cord 13 and plug 12 are removed, the cover 20 may remain on the and at the extremity of cord and the hole 23 may then be filled with a flush or flat-topped cover which will have hooksor projections similar to the hooks 22 and be applied and removed in the same manner cover 20.

It will be observed that the above construction permits the body of the box 10 to'be cast in one=piece, while the cam inclines for engaging the coupling-hooks are formed upon a separate piece, so that the whole device maybe cheaply made.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. An attaching device for covers of fioor receptacles comprising, in combination with the body of the receptacle, a plate removnbly attached thereto and formed with a hole having engaging members around its edge, said plate also carrying :1 cover seat in opposition to said engaging 1nemhers, and a cover for said body having complcincntal engaging members adapted to be 'insertedfor engagement with the firstsaid members by an axial movement of said cover and engaged therewith by a subsequent rotary movement, the rotary movement binding the cover to its seat.

2. A fastening for floor boxes comprising, in cornbiuation with the body of the box, a top for tbe'box formed with an aperture, cum inclines within the box surrounding said aperture, recesses'sepnrating said inclines, a coversent on said top opposite the inclines, and a cover huvlug a complementnl seat and hooks adjacentsaid complements! seat pointing outwardly and adapted to enter said recesses by an uxinl movement of the cover nnd engage said caui inclines by a rotatory movement thereof, means being no vidcd for preventing the admission of liquid or nioistureto said cum inclines.

3. An electrical floor box comprising, in combination, :1 body adapted to rest below the floor level and having a flange, an electrical connector'membcr mounted within said hodyfafiezible conductive cord having a eomplemental connector-member, a cover mounted to 'slide on said cord and having hooks projecting axially and outwardly, said cover when in place being raised above the floor level, a top-plate removubly attached to the body flange and having an aperture to receive said cover, :1 locking plate of,

smaller aperture than said topplate mounted between the top-plate and the flange and formed with com inclines to engage said hooks and intervening recesses to admit the 10 passage of thehooks, a layer of insulation mounted between the said plates and forming a seat for the cover, and a second layer of insulation mounted between the locking plate and the flangev In'testimopy whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, the second day 15 of March, 1906.

- WILLIAM I IRISH Witnesses:

R. M. Pnnzsox, G. W. Homims. 

